Carboxymethyl cellulose/silica hybrids as templates for calcium phosphate biomimetic mineralization

Multiphase hybrid materials were synthesized using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as bioactive polymer, silica gel as matrix assisted networks and calcium phosphate as inorganic mineral phase. These hybrids were investigated with infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Biomimetic crystal growth nucleated from the CMC/silica hybrids was suggested as amorphous calcium phosphate with an evidence that hydroxyapatite, the mineralized component of bone, may be formed at high CMC content. This study provides an efficient approach toward bone-like hybrids with potential bone healing applications.